Mrs. K. Maria Roberts, the widow of the Rev. George Roberts of Sturgeon Lake First Nation, died unexpectedly at home yesterday afternoon of a heart attack.  She was 93. 

Mrs. Roberts' youngest brother, the Rev. Nehemiah Bird of Montreal Lake Cree Nation (see below), had died the previous day, also of natural causes.

Maria was a warm, charming and shy person who was inseparable from her much more extroverted husband, and a true partner in the ministry.

They leave to mourn a daughter, Marlene, and four sons, Samson, Floyd, Clifford and Doyle; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

George was ordained in 1984, at the age 65, and retired from active ministry at the end of 1995, having spanned in this period the ministries of three bishops.  He died in 1999.  His last surviving brother, Jim, died a couple of weeks ago.

Her funeral will take place from the Little Red Reserve Band Hall on Thursday February 7, 2008, at 2 p.m.  The Bishop of Saskatchewan will preside.  Interment to follow at Sturgeon Lake West End Cemetery.

Please keep the Roberts & Bird families in your prayers.

Photo:  Mrs. Roberts at St. Paul's, Sturgeon Lake First Nation in January 2004.